Surfing Waves

For cold water surfers who also surf in the winter when it is even colder, obviously, many will wear their suit to and from the water without changing. However, if you were to change at the beach when cold offshore is blasting or gale force winds when it’s freezing, and were looking for the best warm clothes to suggest for head, hands, feet, and body, what would you recommend?

I’m curious as I’m interested in getting some boots or shoes that are super warm, easy to slip on and off, and won’t get nasty getting a little wet when putting my feet in after a session in northern New England in the winter. Warming your toes and extremities if you surf in cold water in the winter is a necessity. What do you do and what do you recommend?

If you think 50-60F is cold, please don’t comment. You have no idea what cold is, lol, and this topic doesn’t really apply to you unless you are going somewhere where it is actually cold.

I just strip down and get it over with, believe it or not. I throw a sweatshirt on after I get the top of the suit down, then a towel for the second stage.

I’m going to bring a laundry detergent jug with warm water to douse my feet with, and I’m improving my system bit by bit. Just got a lined Dickies zippered hoodie for the top, maybe something like knockoff Uggs would be good for the feet. Fleece lined jeans are going in my car soon too!

Great question, I want to hear what others do!

Tom

Thanks man. In the super cold season I just put my gear on indoors and don’t take it off until after the session in the shower. This means lining my car seat with blankets/towels and trying not to track water in the house but it’s a warmer option. I use a thick Slowtide poncho to change in at the beach. I like the thickness of it but the arm openings are a little weird compared to the FCSII poncho I had before. I cycle through various warm clothes options with the exception of footwear now. I got a new Jetty insulated hoody snap flannel with pockets which is awesome. Fleece sweats are nice. I typically wear Olukai Nohea Mesh shoes. So comfy and easy to slip on and off whether at the beach or anywhere. However, when your feet and toes are numb from the cold water depending on how long your session, you need something warm to get them in to regain feeling. The Nohea Mesh are rough as once out of the booties they are not only numb and cold but also wet and exposed to cold air, so they will rapidly get colder and push toward frostbite if you don’t do something. I crank the foot defrost in my car so it is pumping when I get in and can accelerate the process of thawing out my feet and taking the numbness away. I’ve used a quarter zip fleece hoody before which was convenient to put on to get warm and changed quick. I usually have my Patagonia Nanopuff jacket over the hoody on really cold days to block the wind and add insulation.

I’ve tried snow boots before, like L.L. Bean style duck boots but off brand, however, they aren’t the most insulated and you don’t want to get the inside of those wet. I’ve tried drying my feet off the best I can and putting Smart Wool socks on then my Olukais. They were definitely warmer that way. Still took time to though but it was a hassle to put socks on damp feet especially with the cold wind blowing.

Been thinking of something like a Sanuk Chill boot, Ugg type boot, or something like Bear Paws that might be better to quickly put in your feet, hopefully warm them fast, and not be a pain to clean. I think Olukai makes some insulated slippers too but I don’t think they are waterproof or easy to clean the inside so it doesn’t get musty like an old wetsuit after putting your feet in after a session or two.

I have the Olukai shoes as well, they go with me everywhere. It’d be cool if they made an insulated version.

I just put a few towel on my seat and jump in the car. Then I take a super long 2 hour drive home in my wetsuit.

Some of my friend use a popup tent to blockout the wind. I only go surf in the winter when it is 10/10 condition. Sunny, no wind, glassy and clean waves.

When it's really cold I take a cold shower and walk back to my car about a couple hundred yards away and by then I am mostly dry but hey that's what I do when it isn't cold too hey but when it gets down to the 60's at night we are suffering here in Hawaii now that is cold.....well for here anyway

SaltWaterHeart wrote:If you think 50-60F is cold, please don’t comment. You have no idea what cold is, lol, and this topic doesn’t really apply to you unless you are going somewhere where it is actually cold.

Ummm, OMS?

Instead of towels, try finding a neoprene seat cover. In Hawaii they have a product called Wet Okole, which is custom fit. In Japan, we have a seat cover made by Tools that just drapes over the head rest.

Agreed, the worst part of winter surf, is changing out of your wetsuit , rinsing off and changing in to dry clothes. What if you could eliminate the rinse and change to dry clothes part ? My advise is to get a dry suit. You can wear thermal inners or even regular clothes inside. Plus all you need to do is rinse off you head/hair and wash down the outside of the suit. Inside stays dry. The only negative is you can't pee.




The boots are built in to the suit. The wrists have a double-seal. The fit is loose and roomy so your shoulder don't get as much strain.
These photos are from the wetsuit maker " Oolder ". If you ever have a chance to visit Japan, I recommend you get custom fitted for one.

tomthetreeman wrote:

SaltWaterHeart wrote:If you think 50-60F is cold, please don’t comment. You have no idea what cold is, lol, and this topic doesn’t really apply to you unless you are going somewhere where it is actually cold.

Ummm, OMS?

Yeah I am just goofing. But the neoprene seat covers are cool. I have them even though it isn't cold over here. Yeah 60 degrees is the air temperature at night. The water temp is much warmer.

Yep neoprene seat covers are great.

Ugg boots are also great but make sure you get ones with real wool interior, not something artificial. The wool can cope with a bit of water and won’t fester. They are standard winter beach wear in (southern) Australia.

Admittedly I’m apparently not allowed to comment

SaltWaterHeart wrote:If you think 50-60F is cold, please don’t comment. You have no idea what cold is, lol, and this topic doesn’t really apply to you unless you are going somewhere where it is actually cold.

dtc wrote:Admittedly I’m apparently not allowed to comment

Do I make the cut ?

waikikikichan wrote:

SaltWaterHeart wrote:If you think 50-60F is cold, please don’t comment. You have no idea what cold is, lol, and this topic doesn’t really apply to you unless you are going somewhere where it is actually cold.

dtc wrote:Admittedly I’m apparently not allowed to comment

Do I make the cut ?

$matches[2]

$matches[2]

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I don't know how you do it. After surfing warm water Hawaii, how would anyone want to surf in freezing cold water...

BaNZ wrote:I don't know how you do it. After surfing warm water Hawaii, how would anyone want to surf in freezing cold water...

Easy answer, to re-phrase a Rick James quote: " Surfing's one helluva drug ".

Waikikichan,

It’s all good bro, lol. That quote was great.

BaNZ,
As for surfing cold water which is all I’ve known, think of it this way, if you’ve ever experienced surfing and then knew you could experience that with the only drawback in being it cold, would you do it? Of course.

I’ve been out multiple times the past few weeks when it’s been gale force winds of 40-60mph offshore but beach break waves that break like a point because of the conditions. It’s not that cold here yet in northern New England. When it gets cold those winds will freeze the beach and kids will be skating on it and the offshore turns the tops of the waves into snow/ice as it blows back and the water on your face freezes instantly on that walk up the beach after a session.

I just got some 8mm Xcel booties and 5mm gloves to go with my Vissla 5mm North Seas suit. My boots and gloves desperately needed an upgrade. The booties are great.

Still using my Jetty insulated flannel hoody which snaps on and off easily after a session with joggers and my Olukais. Olukai does make an insulated slipper with the heel fold down bit like their other shoes but I’m not sure it’s meant to get wet. Been looking at Sorel’s and Bear Paws lately which look like they might be a good cold season footwear option after a session. I’ve always left the beach in my gear and changed in the shower during the coldest sessions of the year. I don’t live far from the beach.